Cadillac has used the Fleetwood name for a very long time, dating back to 1927. The Fleetwood name was seen again in 1946 when Cadillac created the special edition Series 60 Special Fleetwood. The Fleetwood name was used yet again as a trim level for the Series 70 as well as the Sixty Special models. The name was seen again in the 1970s with the Fleetwood Limousine and the Fleetwood Brougham. The Fleetwood name and Cadillac have a very long and diverse history together, much of which was quite interesting and successful.

The First Generation Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac offered the Fleetwood Limousine from 1977 until 1979, replacing the Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy Five. The Fleetwood limousine had four doors and was on a FR D-body platform. The Fleetwood Brougham was also produced for the same years this first generation and was offered as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan. Though the vehicle was much smaller than the limousine, it was based on the same D-body platform. Of course, the wheelbase of the Brougham was about 20 inches shorter than that of the limousine.

The Fleetwood Limousine was powered by a 7.0 liter V8 engine that offered 180 horsepower, while the smaller Brougham had two different engine offerings. The Brougham was offered with either a 105 horsepower 5.7-liter diesel V8 engine or a 195 horsepower 7.0-liter V8 engine.

The Second Generation Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac manufactured the second generation of the Fleetwood from 1980 through 1986. During this generation there was a Fleetwood Brougham limousine, on the FR D-body, as well as a Fleetwood sedan and limousine. The Fleetwood Brougham replaced the Cadillac Brougham and was powered by a 6.0 liter V8 engine that was on a 121.5-inch wheelbase. The second generation of the Fleetwood sedan and limousine had several different engine offerings, including a 4.1-liter V6, 6.0 liter V8, a 4.1-liter V8, and a 5.7-liter diesel engine. The sedan had a wheelbase measuring 121.5 inches and the limousine wheelbase measured 134.4 inches in length.

The Third Generation Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac produced the third generation of the Fleetwood from 1985 through 1988. Cadillac offered the Fleetwood in a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and 4-door limousine. This new Fleetwood was built on the FF C-body platform and wheelbases measured from 110 inches to 134 inches in length. These vehicles were front wheel drive and were offered with either a 4.3 liter V6 engine that offered 85 horsepower, or a 4.1 liter 125 horsepower V8 engine.

From 1987 through 1988 the Fleetwood Brougham became the Cadillac Brougham. There were little difference between the Fleetwood and the Deville at this point. This was truly a transition year for the Fleetwood, and for Cadillac as a whole, so the only offering for this model year was the 4.1-liter V8. It was replaced the following year with a 4.9-liter engine.

The Fourth Generation Cadillac Fleetwood
The fourth generation of the Fleetwood is also the generation of the Sixty Special. The production of this fourth generation ran from 1989 through 1992 for the Fleetwood and until 1993 for the Sixty Special. The body styles offered this generation included the four-door sedan as well as the four-door coupe, both of which were on the FF C-body platform This generation was even more closely related to the Cadillac Deville, many considered the Fleetwood and the Sixty Special trim levels of the Deville. Though the Fleetwood and the Sixty Special were identical and similar to many other vehicles on the market, consumers still went for them as they retailed for right around $30,000, which was a steal in the luxury vehicle market. Engines used for this generation were numerous, including a 4.5 liter V8 producing 155 horsepower, a 4.5 liter 180 horsepower, and the 4.9 liter V8 that provided 200 horsepower.

The Fifth Generation Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac produced the fifth generation of the Fleetwood from 1993 until 1996 and was offered as a four-door sedan. The Fleetwood was based on the FR B-body platform and was powered by one of two 5.7-liter V8 engines. The wheelbase on this generation measured 121.5 inches. This generation was one that switched the Fleetwood from the front wheel drive to the rear wheel drive D-body. The 1993 Fleetwood was the largest production luxury car offered in the United States at the time, appealing to those that were looking for luxury as well as space.

In 1994 the Fleetwood received an upgraded 5.7-liter engine that produced a remarkable 260 horsepower. Coupled with a great transmission, the Fleetwood proved to be a great vehicle for performance and luxury. This generation of the Fleetwood is widely collected because of the great styling, powerful engine, and fun transmission. This was the last generation of the Fleetwood, and arguably its best.

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